Did the Free Athens Tour for almost 3 hours. Was informative and fun.
- Loved the marble Panathenaic (festival in honor of the goddess Athena) stadium, or the way locals call it Kallimarmaro (‘made of beautiful marble’). It was built for the Olympic games in 1896, symbol of ancient and modern Greek sport and culture. Modern Greek Olympic games were founded by Evangelos Zappas. Zappas was a philanthropist who funded the revival of the modern Olympic Games approximately 1,433 years after the ancient Olympic Games was ceased by the Roman Empire. Zappas was born in 1800 in Ottoman-occupied north-western Greece in a village called Lambove, near Tepelene, in northern Epirus (now part of the Girokastra region of Albania). The first modern Olympic game was held in Athene in 1859 with athlete from Greece and the ottoman empire. In 1894, Pierre de Coubertin launched his plan to revive the Olympic Games internationally, and in 1896 the first Games of the modern era were held in Athens. (source: wikipedia, https://www.zappas.org/zappas.shtml)
- Lunched at the local Tavern based on the recommendation of the tour guide, Eleina. Tried lamb kleftiko wrapped in cooking paper. It was fine but I don’t think this is my most favorite version of lamb. Marat tried grilled lamb chops – those were pretty good. Daniel had grilled chicken and fires – chicken was too dry. Rice that came with food and tzatziki were very delicious.
- Highest point: Was a pretty productive day.
